Abstract: An asymmetric mixed-mode transceiver may determine to communicate with a destination powerline communication device. The asymmetric mixed-mode transceiver may determine whether an operational mode associated with the destination powerline communication device is a multiple-output multiple-input (MIMO) mode or a single-output single-input (SISO) mode. The asymmetric mixed-mode transceiver may dynamically change its operational mode to either the MIMO mode or the SISO mode to match the operational mode of the destination powerline communication device. The asymmetric mixed-mode transceiver may receive a communication from a source powerline communication device. The asymmetric mixed-mode transceiver may determine whether an operational mode associated with the source powerline communication device is the MIMO mode or the SISO mode. The asymmetric mixed-mode transceiver may dynamically change its operational mode to match the operational mode of the source powerline communication device.

Abstract: Within a domain of a master device, devices that share a power line as a communications medium monitor signal detection windows to sense network status. The devices transmit sensed network status to the master device. The master device allocates channel resources based on the network statuses communicated by the devices within the domain.

Abstract: A method of operating in a network in which a plurality of stations communicate over a shared medium, comprising providing a physical layer (e.g., PHY) for handling physical communication over the shared medium; providing a high level layer (e.g., PAL) that receives data from the station and supplies high level data units (e.g., MSDUs) for transmission over the medium; providing a MAC layer that receives the high level data units from the high level layer and supplies low level data units (e.g., MPDUs) to the physical layer; at the MAC layer, encapsulating content from a plurality of the high level data units; dividing the encapsulated content into a plurality of pieces (e.g., segments) with each piece capable of being independently retransmitted; and supplying low level data units containing one or more of the plurality of pieces.

Abstract: An asymmetric mixed-mode transceiver may determine to communicate with a destination powerline communication device. The asymmetric mixed-mode transceiver may determine whether an operational mode associated with the destination powerline communication device is a multiple-output multiple-input (MIMO) mode or a single-output single-input (SISO) mode. The asymmetric mixed-mode transceiver may dynamically change its operational mode to either the MIMO mode or the SISO mode to match the operational mode of the destination powerline communication device. The asymmetric mixed-mode transceiver may receive a communication from a source powerline communication device. The asymmetric mixed-mode transceiver may determine whether an operational mode associated with the source powerline communication device is the MIMO mode or the SISO mode. The asymmetric mixed-mode transceiver may dynamically change its operational mode to match the operational mode of the source powerline communication device.

Abstract: Communicating between stations over a shared medium includes: monitoring the shared medium for signals received at a first station that is identified with a local network; storing information at the first station that represents characteristics of the signals received at the first station associated with capacity of the shared medium; monitoring the shared medium for signals received at a second station that is identified with the same local network as the first station; storing information at the second station that represents characteristics of the signals received at the second station associated with capacity of the shared medium; and determining whether a stream of data is allowed to be transmitted over the shared medium between the first station and the second station based on at least one of the stored information from the first station and the stored information from the second station.

Abstract: Powerline communication networks can be subject to burst interference resulting in loss of throughput and data corruption. A transmitting network device and a receiving network device of a powerline communication network can be configured to select a best performing powerline terminal coupling configuration for powerline communications. The transmitting network device can determine performance measurements associated with each of a plurality of powerline communication channels. The transmitting network device can select a best performing powerline communication channel based on the performance measurements, and can provide an indication of the best performing powerline communication channel to the receiving network device. The transmitting and the receiving network devices can each configure their respective terminal connections to switch to the best performing powerline communication channel.

Abstract: Communication systems that use different physical layer (PHY) protocols can coexist on a communication medium (e.g., a powerline medium) by using an Inter-PHY Protocol (IPP). The different protocols may use different signal modulation schemes but still may have some features in common. The IPP includes a resource sharing mechanism that regulates access to the communication medium by devices functioning as communication devices (for example, devices communicating over a power line). A subset of devices that communicate among each other form a logical network that shares the medium with other logical networks that use either the same PHY protocol or a different PHY protocol.

Abstract: In a powerline network, a power line node device coupled to a host bridge application detects a “jam packet” in response to an attempt to pass a frame to the host bridge application. The powerline node device uses internal logic to override a conventional ARQ response to this and subsequent frames, in particular, when such frames are of the type for which a response is expected, with an automatic FAIL response for a predetermined time interval.

Abstract: A method of operating in a network in which a plurality of stations communicate over a shared medium, comprising providing a physical layer (e.g., PHY) for handling physical communication over the shared medium; providing a high level layer (e.g., PAL) that receives data from the station and supplies high level data units (e.g., MSDUs) for transmission over the medium; providing a MAC layer that receives the high level data units from the high level layer and supplies low level data units (e.g., MPDUs) to the physical layer; at the MAC layer, encapsulating content from a plurality of the high level data units; dividing the encapsulated content into a plurality of pieces (e.g., segments) with each piece capable of being independently retransmitted; and supplying low level data units containing one or more of the plurality of pieces.

Abstract: A method of operating in a network in which a plurality of stations communicate over a shared medium, comprising providing a physical layer (e.g., PHY) for handling physical communication over the shared medium; providing a high level layer (e.g., PAL) that receives data from the station and supplies high level data units (e.g., MSDUs) for transmission over the medium; providing a MAC layer that receives the high level data units from the high level layer and supplies low level data units (e.g., MPDUs) to the physical layer; at the MAC layer, encapsulating content from a plurality of the high level data units; dividing the encapsulated content into a plurality of pieces (e.g., segments) with each piece capable of being independently retransmitted; and supplying low level data units containing one or more of the plurality of pieces.

Abstract: An access contention scheme is described for use by a station in a network of stations. Access contention by a station having a frame to be transmitted includes detecting contention control information for a contention period and determining from the contention control information if the station is permitted to contend for access to a transmission medium to which the stations are connected during the contention period. When a contention control indicator is detected for a contention period, a station having a frame to transmit determines from the contention control indicator if it is permitted to contend for access to the transmission medium during the contention period.

Abstract: Media Access Control (MAC) layer transmit and receive buffering with multi-level prioritization. The receive buffering allocates receive buffers for receiving frame data from a PHY interface in priority order using both a static and dynamic buffer allocation, and delivers completed buffers queued in a multi-level priority queue to a host interface highest priority first. The transmit buffering delivers completed buffers queued in a multi-level priority queue to the PHY interface in priority order. When the multi-level priority queue contains a buffer that is higher priority than one being prepared for transmit, a priority-based interruption causes the transmit processing of the buffer to be suspended at its current state with the higher priority buffer taking its place. Upon completion of the higher priority buffer, the suspended buffer is resumed at its current state.

Abstract: A method of operating in a network (e.g., a power line communication network) in which a plurality of stations communicate over a shared medium (e.g., an AC power line) having a periodically varying channel. The method includes determining a plurality of channel adaptations (e.g., tone maps) for communication between a pair of stations, and assigning a different one of the plurality of channel adaptations to each of a plurality of phase regions of the periodically varying channel.

Abstract: A method is described for communicating among multiple devices over a shared communication medium. The method includes, in a schedule among multiple subsets of the devices that includes at least one respective time slot for each subset, transmitting from at least one of the devices in a given subset a presence signal associated with the given subset within a time slot for the given subset. A presence signal associated with a given subset is configured to indicate the presence of at least one device in the given subset. The method also includes communicating among devices in a given subset based on presence signals detected from one or more devices in at least one different subset.

Abstract: A method of operating in a network in which stations communicate over a shared medium is described. The method provides regularly repeated contention free intervals, CSMA communication during times outside the contention free intervals, and distributed control over the initiation and makeup of the contention free intervals to a plurality of stations so that any of the plurality of stations can independently initiate transmission within the contention free interval.

Abstract: Communicating between stations over a shared medium includes: monitoring the shared medium for signals received at a first station that is identified with a local network; storing information at the first station that represents characteristics of the signals received at the first station associated with capacity of the shared medium; monitoring the shared medium for signals received at a second station that is identified with the same local network as the first station; storing information at the second station that represents characteristics of the signals received at the second station associated with capacity of the shared medium; and determining whether a stream of data is allowed to be transmitted over the shared medium between the first station and the second station based on at least one of the stored information from the first station and the stored information from the second station.

Abstract: An access contention scheme having both multi-level priorities and a contention-free access indicator for use by a station in a network of stations. When a contention control indicator is detected for a contention period, a station having a frame to transmit determines from the contention control indicator if it is permitted to contend for access to the transmission medium during the contention period. The station determines if the contention control indicator indicates a contention-free access and, if the contention control information indicates a contention-free access, the station determines it a channel access priority level associated with the frame to be transmitted is higher than a channel access priority level associated with a last transmitted frame.

Abstract: An access contention scheme having both multi-level priorities and a contention-free access indicator for use by a station in a network of stations. When a contention control indicator is detected for a contention period, a station having a frame to transmit determines from the contention control indicator if it is permitted to contend for access to the transmission medium during the contention period. The station determines if the contention control indicator indicates a contention-free access and, if the contention control information indicates a contention-free access, the station determines if a channel access priority level associated with the frame to be transmitted is higher than a channel access priority level associated with a last transmitted frame.

Abstract: A rate-adaptive mechanism for optimizing transmitter/receiver connections on a carrier-by-carrier basis for maximum date rate based on channel attributes for that connection and direction. Channel information is produced by a channel adaptation process based on channel characteristics and is stored in both transmitter and receiver as a channel map with an associated a channel map index for channel map look-up. The channel map index for a channel map used to modulate a payload of a frame is conveyed by transmitter to receiver in the frame so that the receiver is able to select the correct channel map for demodulation.

Abstract: A transmit process that limits the time during which a reduced network bandwidth exists between two powerline nodes because a receiving node fails to respond to frame transmission attempts by a transmitting node is described. The transmit process restricts the number of retries that occur in a lower date rate transmission mode and, for a predetermined time period to follow, drops all subsequent frames destined for the non-responding node.